If you've ever grown hardneck garlic, you've probably noticed a curly green stalk emerging from the center of the plant in late spring or early summer. This unique structure is called a garlic scape, and its appearance signals that harvest season is getting closer.

Every year, we receive questions about garlic scapes: What are they? Why do growers remove them? Does removing them actually help the bulbs grow larger?

The answer is a little bit of plant science and a lot of grower experience.